Origin
Yankton, SD
Late night in Yankton on Saturday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Yankton, SD to Jefferson, SD
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
51.2 mi
82 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 52m
★
6 AM
0h 57m
8 AM
1h 6m
10 AM
1h 0m
12 PM
0h 59m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 6m
8 PM
0h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Yankton, SD
Wikimedia Commons
Jefferson, SD
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Yankton, SD to Jefferson, SD covers 51.2 miles and takes about 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on SD Highway 50, I 29, East 4th Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28.9 miles on SD Highway 50. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.00 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 51.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 56m highway drive covering 51.2 miles, with most of the trip on SD Highway 50 and I 29. The longest continuous stretch is about 28.9 miles on SD Highway 50.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 11 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
SD Highway 50 is the longest continuous segment at about 28.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on SD Highway 50 and I 29. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 32.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Yankton, SD to Jefferson, SD is easy. At 56m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 32.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 33.2 miles (I 29): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 50 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 6 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
32.9 mi into trip
|
~38m in
Take the exit toward I 29 South: Elk Point
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward I 29 South: Elk Point
3
33.2 mi into trip
|
~38m in
|
I 29
Merge onto I 29
Merge point - match speed before joining
4
50 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward Jefferson
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward Jefferson
4
50.2 mi into trip
|
~54m in
|
330th Street
Turn left onto 330th Street
Navigation decision point
5
51.2 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
South 3rd Street
Turn right onto South 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| SD Highway 50 | 28.9 mi | 33m |
| I 29 | 16.8 mi | 15m |
| East 4th Street | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| West Dakota Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West 4th Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| 330th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| South 3rd Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
SD Highway 50
— 28.9 mi, about 33m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yankton, SD and Jefferson, SD.
1
Start on SD 52
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
West 4th Street
2
Continue on SD 50
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East 4th Street
3
Continue on SD 50
29 mi
·
33 min
·
SD Highway 50
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 29 South: Elk Point
5
Merge onto I 29
17 mi
·
15 min
·
I 29
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Toward Jefferson
7
Turn left onto 330th Street
400 ft
·
8 sec
·
330th Street
8
Continue on West Dakota Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Dakota Street
9
Turn right onto CR 1B
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Main Street
10
Turn right onto South 3rd Street
56 ft
·
2 sec
·
South 3rd Street
11
Arrive at destination
South 3rd Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.6 mi from Yankton, SD · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.6 miles from Yankton, SD, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Jefferson, SD
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Jefferson, SD if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.00 one way
$16.01 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.79 | $17.58 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.85 | $19.71 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.30 | $22.61 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.38 | $2.46 |
| Efficient EV | 12.8 | 0 | $4.48 | $2.05 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.5 | 0 | $7.17 | $3.28 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Jefferson, SD
Late night in Jefferson on Saturday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
56m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Yankton, SD to Jefferson, SD covers 51.2 miles and takes about 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are SD Highway 50, I 29, East 4th Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.6 miles from Yankton, SD. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.00 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Yankton, SD to Jefferson, SD is easy. At 56m with 89% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 32.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 33.2 miles (I 29): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 50 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from Yankton, SD to Jefferson, SD does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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